The Latest: UK’s May cracks joke about election disaster

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves after a meeting with the Leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Arlene Foster at 10 Downing Street after the general election in London, Tuesday, June 13, 2017. Britain's prime minister has begun talks with a Northern Ireland-based party Tuesday to see if they can create an alliance to push through the Conservative Party's agenda after a disastrous snap election left her short of a majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

LONDON (AP) — The Latest on the British election outcome (all times local):

3:40 p.m.

Prime Minister Theresa May has made a joke at her own expense as Britain’s House of Commons got underway — a reflection of her new humility following a disastrous snap election in which she lost her majority.

After House Speaker John Bercow was re-elected without challenge, a chastened May quipped: “At least someone got a landslide.”

Labour’s unexpectedly strong second-place showing has thrown national politics into disarray. May had called the vote early in hopes of strengthening her majority going into talks on exiting the European Union, but instead found herself in negotiations with a small party in Northern Ireland in order to stay in power.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn countered with a bit of previously unforeseen swagger, wearing a huge red rose — his party’s symbol — in his lapel as he sparred with May.

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2:45 p.m.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster has tweeted that discussions with British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party are “going well” and that she hopes for a conclusion soon.

May began talks with the Northern Ireland-based party to see if they can create an alliance to push through the Conservative Party’s agenda after a disastrous snap election left her short of a majority in Parliament.

About two hours after the talks began, May emerged from 10 Downing Street without saying anything and left in a car. May is going to Paris later in the day.

Foster tweeted afterward that “discussions are going well with the government and we hope soon to be able to bring this work to a successful conclusion.”

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12:50 p.m.

The head of the Democratic Unionist Party has arrived for crucial talks on whether to support Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservatives in an alliance.

The Northern Ireland-based party is being courted by May to create an alliance to push through the Conservative Party’s agenda after a disastrous snap election left May short of a majority in Parliament.

May desperately needs the DUP’s 10 seats to pass legislation. The Conservatives are considering an arrangement in which the Northern Ireland party backs May on the budget and her confidence motions.

The talks with the DUP follow her apology to Conservative rank-and-file lawmakers in a meeting for the party’s poor election result.

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9:30 a.m.

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with a Northern Ireland-based party to see if they can together push through the Conservative Party’s agenda after a disastrous snap election left her short of a majority in Parliament.

The talks Tuesday with the Democratic Unionist Party follows her apology to Conservative rank-and-file lawmakers in a meeting which signaled she would be more open to consultation, particularly with business leaders demanding answers about the details on Britain’s departure from the European Union.

May is under pressure to take on a more cross-party approach to the negotiations surrounding Brexit. The Evening Standard, edited by ex-Treasury chief George Osborne, is reporting that Cabinet ministers have initiated talks with Labour lawmakers.